Folding device



April 1, 1952 c. KEMP 2,591,553

FOLDING DEVICE I Filed April 22. 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 A I I 24 L1 10 40 U I CZagiZn Kemp z iusflfibmegs C. KEMP FOLDING DEVICE April 1, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April 22, 1949 I -ICr. 3.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 FOLDING DEVICE Clayton Kemp, Merchantville, N. 3., assignor to Kieckhefer Container Company, Camden, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application April 22, 1949, Serial No. 88,939

3 Claims.

This invention relates to foldingmechanisms and more particularly to mechanisms for folding flaps on successive blanks as the latter are caused to move in succession along a path of travel. The invention is applicable generally to such folding operations, but it is particularly well suited for use in the manufacture of boxes or cartons formed of cardboard or corrugated board. An example of a machine employed for this purpose is that shown in my prior Patent No. 2,113,052, granted April 5, 1938.

Prior folding mechanisms, such as those employed in the manufacture of cardboard boxes, have not been entirely satisfactory. Sucha mechanism generally employs folding arms which are oscillated back and forth to perform the folding operation on successive blanks. It is usually desirable to move the blanks very rapidly and this has increased the difficulty of the folding operation. Prior folding mechanisms have tended to impose a great deal of frictional drag on the moving blanks, and, furthermore, such mechanisms have often been'complicated and cumbersome.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved folding mechanism which overcomes the objections of prior devices. A more specific object of the invention is to provide a folding mechanism which will impose practically no frictional drag on the moving blanks.

A further object of the invention is to provide -a folding mechanism which is simple in construction and operation and which is generally more efficient than prior devices.

The invention may be fully understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a folding mechanism according to the present invention, as applied to the folding of opposed flaps on successive blanks;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lin 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a pair of spaced supporting rails 8 are adapted to support successive blanks as they are moved in the direction of the arrow 9 by a chain conveyor [0. Associated with the rails 8 are members l I over which the flaps of the blanks are folded.

The chains of conveyor ID are provided with lugs [2 which are adapted to engage the rear edges of the blanks to move them along rails 8. In the illustration two unfolded blanks l3 and M are shown, the blank l3 being in position for the folding of the opposed flaps thereof. A second chain conveyor l5 carries the folded blanks away from the folding mechanism between guides [6. A folded blank is shown at 11.

The apparatus thus far described merely represents a possible arrangement for movement of the blanks through the folding position, Any other suitable arrangement may be employed.

In accordance with the present invention there are provided two folding arms l8 and I9 which are arranged at opposite sides of the conveyor ID for rotary movement respectively in two planes which are convergent with respect to the direction of movement of the blanks. These arms are mounted on shafts and 2| which are inclined with respect to the direction of travel of the blanks so as to dispose the folding arms in the desired angular relation to the path of travel. The shafts 20 and 2| are simultaneously oscillated from rotatable shafts 22 and 23 which are arranged at the opposite sides of the conveyor and are substantially parallel to the path of travel of the blanks. The rotation of shafts 22 and 23 is translated into oscillatory motion of shafts 20 and 2| by means of devices 24 and 25 presently'to be described. The shafts 22 and 23 are connected to a transverse shaft 26 through bevel gears 21 and 28. A common drive shaft 29 serves to drive both of the shafts 22 and 23. These shafts rotate continuously in opposite directions. The driving shaft 29 is connected to a suitable source of power, e. g. an electric motor and a gear reduction unit.

The shafts 22 and 23 are individually adjustable angularly by virtue of adjustable couplings 22a and 23a, one of which is shown in Fig. 4. The purpose of this is to enable relative adjustment of these shafts to effect accurate relative positioning of the folding arms.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, each of the devices 24 and 25 comprises a rocker member 30 pivoted at 3| within a casing or housing 32. The shaft 20 or 2| extends into the upper part of said housing and carries a gear 33 which has specially formed teeth thereon to mesh with a gear segment 34 on the rocker member 30. The special formation of the teeth of gear 33 is necessary because of the inclination of the driven shaft.

The shaft 22 or 23 also extends into the housing 32 and carries a disc 35 on which there is provided an eccentrically mounted pin 36 carrying.

a roller 31. This roller is disposed in arcuate slot 38 formed in the rocker member 30. By reason of this arrangement the rocker member 30 is rocked or oscillated as the driving shaft rotates continuously in one direction. This causes oscillation of the driven shaft and consequent oscillation of the associated folding arm. It should be noted that the mechanism employed causes rapid return of the folding arm to its outer position.

In operation, the folding arms l8 and [9 are oscillated in timed relation to the spacing and rate of movement of the blanks. When a blank arrives at the folding position, the arms are outwardly disposed and they move inwardly to fold the opposed flaps of the blank. Fig. 2 depicts the folding operation by means of the dot-anddash illustration. Fig. 1 shows the amount of movement of the blank l3 during the folding operation.

By virtue of the movement of the folding arms in planes which are convergent with respect to the direction of movement of the blanks, the arms move in said direction while they are rotating in said planes. This greatly reduces the friction between the moving blanks and the arms, with the result that there is practically no frictional drag imposed on the blanks.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the invention provides a novel folding mechanism which is highly efiicient in operation and which is simple in construction. It will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated.

I claim:

- 1. In a folding mechanism, conveyor means for carrying blanks having foldable flaps, a folding arm in fixed position relative to said conveyor means and the moving blanks, said arm being arranged adjacent said conveyor means for rotary movement about an axis disposed at an acute angle to the path of travel of the blanks, said arm being engageable with a flap of a moving blank, said axis extending divergently from said path so that said arm is movable in the direction of movement of the blank while rotating about said axis to fold a flap on the blank, said arm being of a length to maintain engagement with the flap throughout the folding operation, a rotatable shaft associated with said arm and disposed in parallel relation to the path of travel of said blanks, means for rotating said shaft in one direction, and means operable by said shaft for effecting oscillatory movement of said arm to cause it to fold flaps of successive blanks.

2. In a folding mechanism, conveyor means for carrying blanks having foldable flaps, a folding arm arranged adjacent said conveyor means for rotary movement about an axis disposed at an acute angle to the path of travel of a moving blank said axis extending divergently from said path so that said arm is movable in the direction of movement of the blank while rotating about said axis to fold a flap on the blank, said arm being of a length to maintain engagement with the flap throughout the folding operation, a rotatable shaft associated with said arm and disposed in parallel relation to the path of travel of said blanks, means for rotating said shaft in one direction, a rocker member mounted for rocking movement about an axis parallel to said shaft, means operable by said shaft for effecting rocking movement of said member, and gear means interconnecting said arm and said member for effecting oscillatory movement of said arm to cause it to fold flaps of successive blanks.

3. In a folding mechanism, conveyor means for carrying blanks having foldable flaps, a folding arm arranged adjacent said conveyor means for rotary movement about an axis disposed at an acute angle to the path of travel of a moving blank, said axis extending divergently from said path so that said arm is movable in the direction of movement of the blank while rotating about said axis to fold a flap on the blank, said arm being of a length to maintain engagement with the flap throughout the folding operation, a rotatable shaft associated with said arm and disposed in parallel relation to the path of travel of said blanks, means for rotating said shaft in one direction, a rocker member mounted for rocking movement about an axis parallel to said shaft, said rocker member having an arcuate slot therein, a roller eccentrically mounted on said shaft and disposed in said slot, whereby rotation of said shaft effects rocking movement of said member, and gear means interconnecting said arm and said member for effecting oscillatory movement of said arm to cause it to fold flaps of successive blanks.

CLAYTON KEMP.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Staude May 23, 1933 Number 

